New Year Resolutions for Dog Owners That Last Past January

The best new year resolutions for dog owners are the small ones: a new walk route, five minutes of training at mealtime, one new trick a month, and a loose leash. Pick two, make them smaller than you think they need to be, and they have a real chance of still going when the holiday leftovers are gone.

We make treats in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and we talk to dog people at car shows all year. People start the new year with ten promises and are keeping none by the second week. This page covers what survives a busy week.

New year resolutions for dog owners that last

Here is the whole list. Each item gets its own section below, with the smallest version we can think of.

• A new walk route.
• Five minutes of training tied to meals.
• One new trick a month.
• A loose leash.
• A winter walk kit by the door.
• A treat pouch by the door.
• A car ride that is not the vet.

Seven is too many to run at once. That is what the last section is for.

A new walk route

The same loop every day is easy to keep, and that is its weakness. The American Kennel Club writes: "But the same walk, day after day, gets boring and predictable."

The smallest version is one walk a week that goes somewhere new. Turn right at the end of the driveway if you always turn left. Walk your usual loop backward. Take the street you normally only drive down. You do not need a map or a plan. If you drive to a trailhead or a park once a month, that counts too.

Five minutes of training, tied to meals

This is the resolution most likely to stick, because it rides on something you already do every day. The American Kennel Club's guide to training for busy people writes: "Five minutes per session is more than enough." It adds: "Mealtimes are a perfect way to schedule daily training sessions."

The smallest version is a sit before the bowl goes down. That is the whole thing. When the sit gets boring, ask for a down, then a stay for a few seconds. No timer, no schedule, no special space. If you want to know what to teach and in what order, our dog training goals plan lays it out, and our 30 day training plan is the day by day calendar.

One new trick a month

Twelve tricks a year sounds like a lot until you spread it out. The American Kennel Club's training resolutions article says it in one line: "Make a resolution to teach your dog a new trick."

The smallest version is one trick, picked on the first day of the month, practiced during the meal sit. Spin, touch your hand, shake, wait at a door. If the trick is not finished when the month ends, it carries over and nobody keeps score.

If you like a monthly rhythm, Modified Monthly is our monthly treat box for dogs and cats. It comes with a new theme and a handpicked assortment every month, so the box that shows up one month is not the box that shows up the next.

A loose leash

The same training article puts this one plainly: "If your dog pulls on the leash, make it a resolution to teach him or her to walk on a loose leash."

The smallest version is the first minute of each walk. Start moving. When the leash goes tight, stop. When it goes slack, move again, and hand over a small piece at your hip. Then go on with the walk as usual. Do not turn the whole walk into a lesson.

A winter walk kit by the door

Dark comes early in winter, and the ground is wet, salted or icy for a few months. A kit that lives by the door means you are not hunting for things while pulling on boots. Ours is short:

• A light that clips on, for the dark stretches.
• A towel for wet feet.
• A spare leash.
• Tags with a current phone number.
• A few pieces of treat in the pouch.

The smallest version is the towel and the light. Add the rest once those two are routine.

A treat pouch by the door

A pouch that hangs on the leash hook turns "I will train later" into training on the walk. The only requirement is that whatever goes in it stays tidy in a pocket.

That is why our Freeze-Dried Cheddar Cheese Dog Treats are the pocket treat. The only ingredient is cheddar cheese, and we freeze-dry it in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Freeze-drying makes the cheese crunchy and non-greasy rather than soft. It needs no refrigeration once dried, so it travels clean in a pouch or a car. The pieces are small, and it comes in one 8 ounce bag. It contains dairy, so it is not suited to dogs with dairy sensitivities.

The other option is Freeze-Dried Beef Heart Dog Treats. One ingredient, beef heart. The texture is firm and it snaps into small pieces for rapid rewards. It is milder than liver, and it comes in 1.5, 3 and 6 ounce bags. Feed both as a treat or reward, not a complete diet, and supervise while your dog snacks. Reseal the bag after opening and store it cool and dry.

For the longer rundown on how we use treats in training, read What Goes in the Pouch. And if your dog is on a special diet, ask your veterinarian before you add anything new to the pouch.

A car ride that is not the vet

If the car only starts for the vet, the car has a reputation. Fix that on purpose. Once a month, take a short drive that ends somewhere good, such as a trailhead or a field edge with a path behind it.

The smallest version is a destination you can reach in fifteen minutes. Bring water, a towel and the pouch. Think of it as a short cruise with a stop at the end, not an errand.

The keep-it rule: pick two

This is the part most lists skip. Pick two resolutions from the seven above, not all of them. Write them on a note by the door. When both feel automatic, add a third. Not before.

If you miss a week, nothing resets. The resolution is the same one it was before. Pick it up on the next walk. If you want a place to begin, New Year's Day works: a short walk on a route you have never taken, with the pouch on your belt and the first sit before dinner.

Resolution questions

How many resolutions should I make with my dog?

Two. More than that and the list becomes a chore. Pick the two that cost the least time, run them until they are automatic, then add one.

How long should a daily training session be?

Five minutes is plenty. The easiest way to fit it in is to tie it to meals, one sit or down before the bowl goes down.

What if I miss a week?

Start again on the next walk or the next meal. There is no catching up.

Are these resolutions fine for puppies?

The walk route, the meal sit and the monthly trick all work at any age, with the length of each walk set to your dog. We list both our cheddar and our beef heart treats for adult dogs and puppies. If you are not sure about a puppy's diet, ask your veterinarian.

Do the pouch treats need refrigeration?

Not once they are freeze-dried. The cheddar needs no refrigeration, which is why it rides in a pouch or a car without making a mess. Reseal the bag after opening and keep it cool and dry.

Where should I start?

Hang the pouch by the door. It is the cheapest resolution on the list, it takes thirty seconds, and it makes the other six easier to do.